By BlackFreethought ~ O nce I took off the mask and removed the veneer of Christianity during this second deconstruction, the world became a more scary, challenging, and indifferent place. Within this deconstruction 2.0, because one deconstruction wasn't enough to wipe the slate clean, I lost my sense of specialness, my sense of being God's little raindrop, cascading on the earth below. I started to see myself first as one of the many humans who lived and died. I was no longer an actor in a cosmic drama; I was simply me, fated to exist on this pale blue dot in an unremarkable solar system, moving through the universe. Sometimes I feel fear like a child who is instructed by their parents to sleep with the lights off because that's what big kids do. I wasn't ready, but eventually I got used to sleeping with the lights off. Now, having deconstructed a second time, I am finally turning off the light of Christianity, and learning to sleep in the dark unknown of th...

By MTC ~ T he "relationship" Christians have with their deity and wish for others to seek as well, is claimed to be one of pure love, benevolence, and devotion. However, if one pays close attention to the Bible, church teachings, etc., this relationship is exactly like an abusive marriage ("The Church," which is comprised of all Christians, is indeed said to be his bride). "God" demands complete control over the lives of his followers; where they live, what they do for a living, according to the Bible God controls everything in their lives, and if they rebel in even the slightest way, watch out! Christians are instructed to fear their god. In fact, they often avoid doing, saying, or even thinking about things they fear will anger him. I remember that all too well when I was still a believer! One of the main reasons why battered spouses don't leave and file for divorce is because they're too scared to do so. "God" threatens mortals ...

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. ( WHNS/Gray News ) - A former youth pastor in South Carolina has been sentenced to federal prison after appearing in court on Tuesday. Daniel Kellan Mayfield was sentenced to the maximum sentence of 240 months in prison on a federal charge for possessing child pornography. The judge said he must serve 85 percent of his sentence and is also required to register as a sex offender. Officials said 5,344 images of child pornography were found on Mayfield’s phone.

By Dillon Thomas Updated on: November 11, 2025 / 5:45 PM MST / CBS Colorado     F ort Collins, Colorado police have arrested Matthew McGinley, 30, accusing the former worship pastor and teacher of sexual assault of a minor by a person in a position of trust. In police and court records obtained by CBS News Colorado, McGinley is accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student that continued for more than one year. McGinley was a part-time educator at a prominent Northern Colorado Christian school for the 2018-2019 school year, according to the school. According to police, that is when McGinley met the victim in one of the classes he helped teach. The student was younger than 18 when they met. Police reported that McGinley, 24 at the time, and the student began by exchanging flirtatious late-night texts before the relationship progressed to kissing. Police said the two started having sex at the beginning of 2020. It continued through part of 2020 until the v...

From the Oklahoma Attorney General: OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 2, 2025) – The founder of a Texas megachurch pleaded guilty today to five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child stemming from incidents that date back to the 1980s. Robert Preston Morris, 64, appeared in court today in front of Osage County District Special Judge Cindy Pickerill. Morris, who resigned last summer as senior pastor of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, was indicted by a Multi-County Grand Jury earlier this year. The abuse began in December 1982 when Morris was a traveling evangelist visiting the family of the victim in Hominy. The victim was 12 years old at the time, and the abuse continued over the next four years. Under the plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence with the first six months to be served in the Osage County Jail. He must register as a sex offender and will be supervised by Texas authorities via interstate compact. Morris was also ordered to pay his costs of incarcerat...